To My Best Girl...

To my best girl

Momma

Thank you for loving me

Teaching me

Demonstrating unconditional love 

That honestly, I still do not know how 

How you managed to love and love

And forgive and forgive and forgive 

To no end

You saw the best in everyone

In everything

Lord knows, I try but, whew child

It is not easy

Thank you, momma

For being my example

For being the example

The example of the BEST LOVE

We have been rocking since you were 17

You were a teenager 

Trying to figure it out

I remember sitting on the floor as you combed my hair

Usually two ponytails

One on each side of my head

Sometimes three – adding one in my back

When we had a little extra time

Or when you combed my hair the night before

I had to wear underwear on my head

I hated it

But I loved how they kept my hair neat for school the next morning

When you finished my hair, you would smooth the ponytails

Your hands following my hair past my shoulders

You would lean in and whisper in my ear

“Chee, you are so smart.  You are beautiful. You will accomplish great things”

Momma I had no idea what I wanted to be 

Or how I would be able to accomplish anything 

Other than making it through each day

Yet

You believed in me

You saw me

You gave me hope

I began to see myself through your eyes

Fast Forward 

Here I am

Still standing

Without you

Yet with you

Some days are tougher 

Than the day before

Some days are a bit easier

I cry at the oddest 

And even the best times of the day

Every day

I feel the void of not having you here

Your laugh

Your smile

Your softness

Your kindness

I miss every part of you

Yet I keep going to honor you 

To honor what you saw in me

To bring you joy 

Brings me joy

I carry you in my heart 

I hear you say

“I love you, Chee”

I love you too, Momma

May you rest easy

My sweet girl

You deserve it